Senator-Elect King vows for bi-partisanship in Washington

FREEPORT, Maine (NEWS CENTER) - The day after handily winning a seat in the U.S. Senate, Angus King vowed to fight across the aisle to move the country forward.

King's victory was declared almost immediately after polls closed Tuesday night. Analysts felt confident with the projection based on exit polling data from across the state.

As the numbers finally came in, it was clear that King won in a landslide. In a six candidate race, King took 53% of the vote. His closest competitor, Republican Charlie Summers, earned 31% and Democratic candidate Cynthia Dill won 13%.

In what turned into an early acceptance speech, King addressed his supporters Tuesday night. He cited the massive spending effort for anti-King ads by Karl Rove's SuperPAC "American Crossroads" as a key to his victory.

King also said that, despite all the work he's done to promote tourism in Maine, he hopes Rove never visits.

In his address at the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport on Tuesday, King said his mandate is clear: to break partisan gridlock in the capital.

He says he's in a unique position as an Independent to work with both parties and referenced a course he teaches on leadership as tools he'll be able to use in Washington.

King says that he's already spoken with outgoing Senator Olympia Snowe, who blamed the gridlock for her decision not to pursue another term. He says he's spoken with Senator Susan Collins, as well, and looks forward to working with her in Washington.